Launching device for launching a sports object

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a launching device ( 100 ) for launching a sports object, comprising a drive ( 101, 201 ) with a drive body ( 103, 111 ) for driving the spurts object according to the controllable drive characteristics, and a control device ( 107 ) for controlling the controllable drive characteristics in accordance with at least one occupational physiological parameter.

The invention relates to the field of sports training with sports objects.

Modern training concepts often rely on devices which support training such as for instance ball release mechanisms which release balls in the direction of a player. Such ball release mechanisms are used in particular to intensify soccer or tennis training because the sequential release of balls enables a player to practice specific technical skills, such as for example receiving the ball, within a short interval of time.

However, known ball release mechanisms do not allow targeted individual conditioning training in addition to practicing with the ball.

It is thus the task of the present invention to provide a more efficient training release mechanism for releasing a sports object which enables the synchronous and coordinated real-time training of individualized conditioning, technical, tactical and psychological training objectives based on sensor data.

This task is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention form the subject matter of the description, the dependent claims and the figures.

The present invention is based on the knowledge that the above task can be solved by controlling and/or regulating release of a sports object as a function of at least one physiological performance parameter or a plurality of physiological performance parameters of a player, for example his heart rate and/or lactate level. Doing so efficiently and in time-saving manner simultaneously enables conditioning training at e.g. a constant or predefined heart rate and skills training aimed at improving control of the sports object.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a release mechanism for releasing a sports object comprising a drive having a drive body for driving the sports object according to a controllable drive characteristic and a regulating device for regulating the controllable drive characteristic as a function of a physiological performance parameter or a plurality of physiological performance parameters.

According to one embodiment, the drive body drives the sports object directly. The drive characteristic thus acts directly on a state of movement of the sports object.

The drive characteristic can thereby encompass a translatory and/or rotational speed of the drive body and/or a translatory and/or rotational acceleration of the drive body. The drive body drives the sports object due for example to reciprocal action between a surface of the drive body and a surface of the sports object.

The controllable drive characteristic enables the regulating of for example a desired release path, e.g. a trajectory, and/or a rotation or spin and/or release direction, particularly a vertical and/or horizontal release direction, and/or the release force of the sports object.

The release mechanism can be a sports training device, for example a ball launcher robot, which allows a player to train with the sports object. The controllable drive characteristic allows particularly efficiently adjusting or regulating training intensity with the sports object.

If the physiological performance parameter is for example a vital parameter of the player, for example his measured heart rate, the drive characteristic and thus the training intensity can then also be regulated as a function of the measured heart rate. By so doing, the player can undertake conditioning, regenerative or warm-up training and at the same time practice control of the sports object, for example the act of receiving a ball. This achieves particularly time-efficient training.

The release mechanism can comprise a sports object storage in order to sequentially supply one or more sports objects to the drive.

According to one embodiment, the regulating device is designed to regulate the controllable drive characteristic as a function of at least one of the following physiological performance parameters: a vital parameter, particularly heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen concentration, blood sugar level, blood pressure, skin conductance, myoelectric activity, electrocerebral activity and/or a biomechanical parameter, particularly a time parameter, biokinematic parameter or biodynamic parameter.

According to one embodiment, the physiological performance parameter encompasses one or more vital parameters, particularly heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen concentration, blood sugar level, blood pressure, skin conductance, myoelectric activity, electrocerebral activity and/or several or one biomechanical characteristics, particularly a time property, a biokinematic property or a biodynamic property, and/or several or one biomechanical parameters, particularly a time parameter, a biokinematic parameter or a biodynamic parameter.

According to one embodiment, the physiological performance parameter encompasses a target physiological performance parameter and/or actual physiological performance parameter, particularly of a player.

The target physiological performance parameter can be a vital target parameter of a player, for example a target heart rate, or a biomechanical target parameter, for example a target acceleration of a player. The target parameter can be for example stored in a memory and for example implemented as a training default. The actual physiological performance parameter is for example a current physiological performance parameter of the player, for example the current heart rate or travel pace.

The physiological performance parameter can be measured metrologically, for example by means of a sensor or a plurality of sensors on the player. According to one embodiment, the measured physiological performance parameter can be transmitted to the release mechanism, e.g. wirelessly or via wires, and received by a release mechanism communication interface. According to one embodiment, however, the physiological performance parameter can be entered into an input field of the release mechanism or into a parameter selection box by means of an input device, e.g. a keyboard or a parameter selection box.

According to one embodiment, the release mechanism comprises a communication interface designed to receive physiological performance parameters or information on the parameters, particularly at least one measured value of the physiological parameter, via a communication network. The physiological performance parameter can be an actual physiological performance parameter of a player, for example an actual measured physiological performance parameter of a player.

According to one embodiment, the physiological performance parameter is an actual parameter or the physiological performance parameter encompasses an actual parameter of a player, wherein the regulating device is designed to regulate the controllable drive characteristic of the drive as a function of the actual physiological performance parameter and a target physiological performance parameter, particularly as a function of a difference or differential between the actual physiological performance parameter and the target physiological performance parameter. The regulating device can for example have a feedback control structure and control the drive characteristic based on the difference between the actual physiological performance parameter and target parameter. The regulating device can hereby be designed to control the drive characteristic so as to minimize the differential.

According to one embodiment, the physiological performance parameter is a target parameter, whereby the controllable regulating device is designed to regulate the controllable drive characteristic based on, particularly solely based on, the target physiological performance parameter. To this end, the regulating device can identify or select between target physiological performance parameters and drive characteristics of the drive characteristic based on a correlation previously stored in a memory, e.g. a characteristic curve, and regulate and/or set the drive corresponding to the selected drive characteristic.

According to one embodiment, the release mechanism comprises a memory, the above-cited memory for example, for storing a plurality of selectable physiological performance parameters, particularly a plurality of target physiological performance parameters, whereby the physiological performance parameter, particularly as a target physiological performance parameter, can be selected by means of a graphical user interface. Using the selected target physiological performance parameter, the regulating device can regulate and/or set the drive characteristic using a previously stored correlation between target parameters and drive characteristics, e.g. a characteristic curve.

According to one embodiment, the drive body is a transversally displaceable drive body, wherein the drive characteristic is a linear drive characteristic, or wherein the drive body is a rotatable drive body and the drive characteristic is a rotational characteristic, or wherein the drive body is a rotatable drive body and wherein the drive further comprises a transversally displaceable drive body, and wherein the drive characteristic encompasses a linear drive characteristic of the transversally displaceable drive body and a rotational characteristic of the rotatable drive body. The transversally displaceable drive body can for example comprise a movable drive rod having a front end for transferring impact momentum to the sports object.

According to one embodiment, the drive body is a rotatable drive body, wherein the regulating device is designed to regulate the controllable drive characteristic of at least one of the following rotational parameters of the rotatable drive body: rotational speed, rotational direction, rotational acceleration, rotation period, rotational axis inclination, rotational axis inclination relative to perpendicular, drive body inclination, particularly a surface normal relative to perpendicular or to the horizontal.

According to one embodiment, the drive body is a rotatable drive body, whereby the drive comprises a second rotatable drive body, and whereby the sports object can be driven by means of the rotatable drive body and the second rotatable drive body. Both rotatable drive bodies can hereby rotate in opposite directions such that both drive bodies can drive and release the sports object introduced between said drive bodies.

According to one embodiment, the second rotatable drive body comprises a second controllable drive characteristic, particularly a rotational characteristic, wherein the regulating device is designed to regulate the second drive characteristic as a function of the physiological performance parameter. The second drive characteristic can encompass the same characteristics as the first drive characteristic. According to one embodiment, the regulating device is designed to regulate both drive bodies simultaneously. When the drive bodies have the same rotational speed and different rotational directions, the sports object is for example set into less rotation (or even none) than when the drive bodies have different rotational speeds.

According to one embodiment, the drive comprises a wall to which the sports object can be guided or rolled, and whereby the sports object can be introduced between the drive body and the wall. The sports object can thus be rolled up to the wall by the drive body and released.

According to one embodiment, the respective drive body is or comprises a drive disk or a drive ball or a drive cone. The sports object can be set into rotation and delivered and/or released by the drive body being rotated.

According to one embodiment, the respective drive body is rotatably mounted, in particular rotatably about a rotational axis positioned external of the respective drive body, wherein the regulating device is designed to rotate the drive body as a function of the parameter or as a function of a direction of release, particularly a randomly selectable or adjustable release direction. This thereby allows changing a spatial position of the respective drive body in order to enable the sports object to be released for example in different directions. The axis of rotation can be any spatial axis.

According to one embodiment, the drive body is a transversally displaceable drive body which is designed to exert impact momentum on the sports object. In this case, the sports object can be driven and released by a linear impact. A direction of impact, a force of impact and/or an impact displacement relative to the sports object's center of gravity thereby determine(s) the sports object's drive characteristic and thus release path.

According to one embodiment, the drive body is a transversally displaceable drive body, its lateral displacement and/or angular displacement being adjustable. The lateral displacement and the angular displacement determines a direction of impact relative to a horizontal axis, or a perpendicular axis respectively, through the sports object's center of gravity. By so doing, a decentralized impact momentum can set the sports object into rotation and/or forward it along a parabolic trajectory.

According to one embodiment, the drive body is a transversally displaceable drive body, wherein the drive characteristic is a linear drive characteristic, and wherein the regulating device is designed to regulate the controllable drive characteristic of at least one of the following parameters of the drive body: momentum, acceleration, lateral displacement relative the sports object, angular displacement relative the sports object, or drive body inclination relative perpendicular.

According to one embodiment, the release mechanism is designed to release a plurality of sports objects within a predetermined, particularly adjustable, interval of time. The time interval can for example likewise be a function of the physiological performance parameter. Hence, the time interval can for example be shortened to increase a player's heart rate or extended to lower a player's heart rate. The time interval enables setting a controllable release frequency for the sports object. The time interval can be controlled for example by the regulating device. To this end, the drive can be activated or deactivated and/or the sports object supplied to the drive pursuant to the time interval. The release mechanism can comprise a sports object storage for respectively supplying a sports object to the drive.

According to one embodiment, the release mechanism is designed to generate a release notification signal prior to or concurrent with the release of the sports object, particularly an audible or visual release notification signal. Doing so enables informing the player of the imminent release of the sports object. The time interval between the release notification signal being generated and the sports object being released can be set for example as a function of the physiological performance parameter, e.g. by the regulating device. This thereby allows individual and adaptive real-time training with the sports object.

According to one embodiment, the sports object is a ball, particularly a soccer ball, a football, a rugby ball, a basketball, a baseball, a volleyball, a handball, a golf ball, a cricket ball, a polo ball, a ping-pong ball, or the sports object is a hockey puck.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a method for releasing a sports object by means of a drive body comprising a rotatable drive body for driving the sports object according to a controllable drive characteristic which encompasses regulating the controllable drive characteristic as a function of at least one physiological performance parameter.

Further features of the method for releasing a sports object derive directly from features of the device for releasing a sports object.

According to one embodiment, the method is realized by the release mechanism for releasing a sports object.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a training system having a measuring device for measuring at least one physiological performance parameter of a player and the inventive release mechanism for releasing a sports object as a function of the physiological performance parameter of the player.

The measuring device can comprise a sensor or a plurality of sensors in order to measure the physiological performance parameter, e.g. a vital parameter or a biomechanical parameter, or a plurality of physiological performance parameters. A respectively measured physiological performance parameter can for example be used as the afore-mentioned target physiological performance parameter for the regulating device's controlling of the drive characteristic.

Reference will be made to the accompanying figures in defining further embodiments. Shown are:

FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a release mechanism;

FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a release mechanism; and

FIG. 3 a schematic representation of a training system.

FIG. 1 shows a release mechanism 100 for releasing a sports object comprising a drive 101 having a drive body 103 for driving the sports object 105 according to a controllable drive characteristic and a regulating device 107 for regulating the controllable drive characteristic as a function of at least one physiological performance parameter or a plurality of physiological performance parameters.

The drive body 103 can be a drive body rotatable about e.g. axis 109, for example a ball, a disk or a cone. The sports object 105, for example a soccer ball, can be set into rotation and released for example in the direction of a player (nor shown in FIG. 1) by the drive body 103 being rotated.

The release mechanism 100 can further comprise a drive element 111 which can likewise interact with the sports object 105.

According to one embodiment, the drive element 111 is a second rotatable drive body 111, its direction of rotation about rotational axle 112 opposite to the direction of rotation of the (first) rotatable drive body 103. The second rotatable drive body 111 can exhibit the features of the first rotatable drive body. The sports object disposed between the components can be accelerated and released by the opposite rotations of the rotatable drive bodies 103, 111. The rotational speeds of the rotatable drive bodies 103, 111 can be the same or different in order to additionally influence for example the rotation of the sports object itself and/or its direction of release.

According to a further embodiment, the drive element 111 is a wall to which the sports object 105, driven by the rotatable drive body 103, can be rolled, In so doing, the sports object is guided for example along the wall 111, the spatial orientation of which being able to influence the direction in which the sports object is released.

The drive 101 can comprise a controllable motor or a plurality of controllable motors for driving the respective drive body 103, 111 in order to control or respectively regulate the respective drive characteristic such as for example rotational acceleration, rotational speed or rotational direction.

The regulation can for example consist of regulating or controlling the drive characteristic as a function of a difference between one or more actual physiological performance parameters, for example a player's heart rate, and one or more target physiological performance parameters so as to minimize the difference.

Regulation can however also occur exclusively on the basis of a target physiological performance parameter. The target parameter can hereby be input by means of a graphical input device, for example.

Regulation can be adaptive and/or based on characteristic curves stored in a memory of the release mechanism 100 which specify a correlation between physiological performance parameters, particularly actual physiological performance parameters, or a difference between actual and target parameters and drive characteristics.

According to one embodiment, the release mechanism 100 comprises a communication interface 113 which can be designed to communicate wirelessly pursuant to a wireless communication standard or for wired communication pursuant to a wired communication standard. The communication interface enables the release mechanism 100 to for example receive one or more physiological performance parameters. The communication interface 113 is connected to the regulating device 107 and transmits the received actual physiological performance parameter to same for regulating the drive characteristic.

The receivable physiological performance parameter(s) can be for example an actual physiological performance parameter of the player transmitted by a measuring device able to be affixed to the player (not shown in FIG. 1), for example a pulse sensor, and received by the communication interface 113.

According to one embodiment, the communication interface 115 serve to remotely control the release mechanism 100 or to transmit or set one or more target physiological performance parameters.

According to one embodiment, the release mechanism 100 further comprises a transversally displaceable drive body able to exert a controlled impact on the sports object. The drive characteristic hereby also encompasses a linear drive characteristic of the transversally displaceable drive body set by the regulating device 107. The drive can additionally comprise a linear drive or a gear drive for converting a rotation into a linear movement to drive the transversally displaceable drive body. A release path or release trajectory for the sports object and/or its independent movement such as for instance its rotation about its own rotational axis can be set by a combination of the rotation characteristic of the rotatable drive body 103, 111 and the linear drive characteristic.

According to one embodiment, the release mechanism 100 only comprises the transversally displaceable drive body.

According to one embodiment, the drive can be rotatably mounted, whereby the respective drive body 103, 111 is additionally rotatable about at least one further rotational axis. The sports object can thus be released into any spatial direction. This embodiment is depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a release mechanism 200 having a drive 201 which for example encompasses two rotatable drive bodies 203 and 205. The rotatable drive bodies 203 and 205 are each rotatably mounted, for example in both directions, about their rotational axes 207 and 209 as indicated in FIG. 2 by arrows 204 and 206, thereby allowing the regulating of for example the spinning of a soccer ball.

A regulating device not shown in FIG. 2 can regulate or respectively control the drive characteristics of the rotatable drive bodies 203 and 205 as described in conjunction with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, thereby effecting the release of a sports object 211, e.g. a soccer ball, introduced between the rotatable drive bodies.

The release mechanism 200 can exhibit in the rotatable drive bodies 203 and 205 as well as the (not shown) regulating device and an optional communication interface the features of release mechanism 200.

The drive bodies 203 and 205 can moreover be mounted so as to be spatially rotatably together about one or more of the rotational axes 213, 215 and 217. The rotational axes 213, 215 and 217 are for example positioned external of the drive bodies 203 and 205 and effect a spatial orientation of the drive bodies 203 and 205 in order for the released sports object 211 to achieve different trajectories. A further drive 219 can be provided for this purpose in order to spatially pivot, incline or turn the drive bodies 203 and 205 together. The further drive 219 can for example comprise one or more motors which effect a rotation of the drive bodies 203 and 205 about one or more of the rotational axes 213, 215, 217 to set a spatial angle of a rotation. The further drive 219 can be controlled or regulated by the regulating device.

According to one embodiment, one of the drive bodies 203, 205 can be replaced by a wall for the rolling up of the sports object 211.

FIG. 3 shows a training system comprising a measuring device 301 for measuring at least one physiological performance parameter of a player 303 and an e.g. release mechanism 200 for releasing the sports object 211 as a function of the physiological performance parameter of the player 303. However, the following remarks also apply analogously to the use of the release mechanism 100 depicted in FIG. 1 in the training system depicted in FIG. 3.

The following will describe an example of a training method sequence using the training system.

The measuring device 301 comprises for example one or more sensors which can be arranged on the player 303. The sensors measure the actual physiological performance parameter(s) of the player 303, for example his heart rate, respiratory rate, travel speed or his lactate level.

The measuring device 301 transmits the actual physiological performance parameter(s) of the player 303 to the release mechanism 200 in step 305, for example over a wireless communications network using a wireless communications technology such as Bluetooth, WLAN or infrared.

The actual physiological performance parameter(s) is/are received by a communication interface not shown in FIG. 3. The target physiological performance parameter(s) is/are read out of e.g. a memory of the release mechanism 200 in step 307 by for example the regulating device. The target physiological performance parameter(s) is/are compared to at least one of the actual physiological performance parameter(s) received in step 309 in order to obtain a target/actual value difference. The regulating device regulates or controls the respective drive characteristic of the respective drive body in step 310 based on the target/actual value difference in order to, in the case of a ball for example, regulate a ball release frequency, the spin of the ball, a ball trajectory or a ball speed.

The release mechanism 200 can indicate the imminent release of the sports object 211 in step 311 by means of an audible, visual or acousto-optical release notification signal 312 at time t1. The release of the sports object occurs at time t2 in step 313 subsequent the end 314 of a time lag t2-t1. The time lag t2-t1 can likewise be set by the regulating device as a function of at least one actual physiological performance parameter in order to e.g. increase or reduce training intensity.

The method described above can be adaptively realized according to one embodiment. The release mechanism 200 hereby successively releases a plurality of sports objects and the actual physiological performance parameter(s) of the player 303 are continuously monitored and transmitted to the release mechanism 200.

According to one embodiment, the drive characteristic of the respective drive body 203 is then only regulated when the target/actual value difference reaches or exceeds a predetermined or adjustable threshold value. The threshold value can amount for example to 2%, 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% with respect to an actual or target value.

The described embodiments only refer to one physiological performance parameter and/or one actual physiological performance parameter or one target physiological performance parameter by way of example. However, a plurality of physiological performance parameters and/or actual physiological performance parameters or target physiological performance parameter can be utilized analogously in all of the embodiments. 

1. A release mechanism for releasing a sports object, comprising: a drive having a drive body for driving the sports object according to a controllable drive characteristic; and a regulating device for regulating the controllable drive characteristic as a function of at least one physiological performance parameter.
 2. The release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the regulating device is designed to regulate the controllable drive characteristic as a function of at least one of the following physiological performance parameters: a vital parameter, particularly heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen concentration, blood sugar level, blood pressure, skin conductance, myoelectric activity, electrocerebral activity and a biomechanical parameter.
 3. The release mechanism according claim 1, wherein the physiological performance parameter encompasses at least one of a target physiological performance parameter and an actual physiological performance parameter.
 4. The release mechanism according to claim 1 comprising a communication interface which is designed to receive at least one of the physiological performance parameter and information on the physiological performance parameter, via a communication network.
 5. The release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) the physiological performance parameter is an actual parameter of a player, and wherein the regulating device is designed to regulate the controllable drive characteristic of the drive as a function of the actual physiological performance parameter and a target physiological performance parameter and (ii) the physiological performance parameter is a target physiological performance parameter, and wherein the controllable regulating device is designed to regulate the controllable drive characteristic based on the target physiological performance parameter.
 6. The release mechanism according to claim 1 comprising a memory for storing a plurality of selectable physiological performance parameters, wherein the physiological performance parameter is selected by means of a graphical user interface.
 7. The release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) the drive body is a transversally displaceable drive body and wherein the drive characteristic is a linear drive characteristic, (ii) the drive body (is a rotatable drive body and wherein the drive characteristic is a rotational characteristic, and (iii) the drive body is a rotatable drive body and wherein the drive further comprises a transversally displaceable drive body, and wherein the drive characteristic encompasses a linear drive characteristic of the transversally displaceable drive body and a rotational characteristic of the rotatable drive body.
 8. The release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the drive body (is a rotatable drive body, and wherein the regulating device is designed to regulate the controllable drive characteristic of at least one of the following rotational parameters of the rotatable drive body: rotational speed, rotational direction, rotational acceleration, rotation period, rotational axis inclination, rotational axis inclination relative to perpendicular, and drive body inclination.
 9. The release mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive body is a rotatable drive body, wherein the drive comprises a second rotatable drive body, and wherein the sports object can be driven by means of the rotatable drive body and the second rotatable drive body.
 10. The release mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the second rotatable drive body comprises a second controllable drive characteristic, and wherein the regulating device is designed to regulate the second drive characteristic as a function of the physiological performance parameter.
 11. The release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the drive comprises a wall to which the sports object is one of a guided and rolled, and wherein the sports object is introduced at a location from about the drive body to about the wall.
 12. The release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the respective drive body comprises at least one of a drive disk, a drive ball, and a drive cone.
 13. The release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the respective drive body is rotatably mounted, and wherein the regulating device is designed to rotate the drive body as a function of at least one of (i) the physiological performance parameter or and (ii) a direction of release of the sports object.
 14. The release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the drive body is a transversally displaceable drive body which is designed to exert impact momentum on the sports object.
 15. The release mechanism according to claim 14, wherein the drive body is a transversally displaceable drive body, wherein the drive characteristic is a linear drive characteristic, and wherein the regulating device is designed to regulate the controllable drive characteristic of at least one of the following parameters of the drive body: momentum, acceleration, lateral displacement relative the sports object, angular displacement relative the sports object, and drive body inclination relative perpendicular.
 16. The release mechanism according to claim 1 which is designed to release a plurality of sports objects within a predetermined interval of time.
 17. The release mechanism according to claim 1 which is designed to generate a release notification signal at one of (i) prior to and (ii) concurrent with the release of the sports object.
 18. The release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the sports object is one of a ball and a hockey puck.
 19. A method for releasing a sports object by a drive body which comprises driving the sports object, by a rotatable drive body, according to a controllable drive characteristic comprising: regulating the controllable drive characteristic as a function of at least one physiological performance parameter.
 20. A training system comprising: a measuring device for measuring at least one physiological performance parameter of a player; and the release mechanism for releasing a sports object in accordance with claim 1 as a function of the physiological performance parameter of the player. 